John 21:15-19 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
There’s much that can be learned in this passage about listening, forgiveness, sacrifice and more. A resurrected Jesus has met his disciples on the beach with a breakfast of fish cooked over an open fire. Now he draws Peter aside for a quiet conversation. The last time they spoke, Jesus warned Peter that he would betray Jesus three times. Despite Peter’s insistence that he would never deny Jesus, that’s exactly what happened. Now these questions, and Peter’s answers, are a moment of restoration.
But there’s something here for anyone who wants to follow the way of Jesus. The question Jesus asks is “Peter, do you love me?” That’s where the way begins: recognizing Jesus’ love and returning that love with our own.
Jesus asks us: do you love me? Do you love me more than these goals, possessions, people, privileges?
Listen closely to the question: Do you love Jesus more than “these”? What “these” come to mind?
That’s more than a one-time question. Or even a three-time question. It’s a lifetime question. “Do you love me? Do you love me more than these?”
If the answer is “Yes,” then the next step is to serve, to feed the sheep and lambs God puts in our path: the children, the aging, the new believers, those who have followed for years but grow tired or discouraged or burdened by doubt. For each of us it will be different. For each of us, it will change across seasons of our lives.
But the question and command remain. In different ways, at different times, Jesus will ask us: do you love me? Do you love me more than these? It’s good to stop, and consider, NOW, what in our lives is clamoring for attention. Are those priorities claiming our love? Or are they part of the task of feeding the sheep God calls us to?
Jesus invites us to join him in a lifelong conversation and sacrifice of love. Before the cross, and after, he calls us: “Follow me.”
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for showing your love for Peter, the other disciples, and me, by dying on the cross. Thank you for providing breakfast on the beach for them, and for providing so much more for all of us, today and every day. Help me to love you more than the good things you give me, more than the people you put in my life, more than the priorities that demand my attention. Ask me again: “do you love me more than these?” Help me to hear you, and answer with obedience.
Show me how to serve those you put in my life. Show me how to share your love and your provision. Teach me to feed your sheep and lambs the way that you feed me. Jesus, in all things, help me to follow you, with the great and lasting joy that comes from knowing and living in your love.
Carol Kuniholm
Share the cards with friends and family via text and social media: on a desktop, right click the image and select Save or Copy Image. On a mobile device, hold and either Copy or Save to photo roll; spread the Good News!